The Integumentary System

Chapter 6

 Organs are two or more tissues which

together perform a specialized function.
Epithelial membranes are thin structures
that usually contain both epithelial and
connective tissue.

Three types of epithelial

membranes
Serous Membranes
Line cavities and cover organs
Simple squamous epi. over loose connective
tissue
Parietal and visceral portions
Secrete a serous (watery) fluid for lubrication

 Mucous membranes
Line cavities that open to the exterior
Layer of epithelium over connective tissue;
epithelium varies with location
Tight junctions and goblet cells

Cutaneous membrane is the skin

the major organ of the integumentary system

 Integumentary system is the skin and the

organs derived from it (hair, glands, nails)
One of the largest organs
2 square meters; 10-11 lbs.
Largest sense organ in the body

The study of the skin is Dermatology

Functions:
1. Regulation of body temperature
Cellular metabolism produces heat as a
waste product .
High temperature
Dilate surface blood vessels
Sweating

Low temperature
Surface vessels constrict
shivering

2. Protection
physical abrasion
dehydration
ultraviolet radiation
3. Sensation
touch
vibration
pain
temperature

4. Excretion
5. Immunity/ Resistance
6. Blood Reservoir
8-10 % in a resting adult
7. Synthesis of vitamin D
uv light
aids absorption of calcium

Anatomy
Epidermis
Skin
Dermis
Subcutaneous layer or hypodermis

Epidermis
Stratum basale (stratum germinativum)
Single layer of cuboidal to columnar cells
Stem cells that produce keratinocytes
Melanocytes - # the same for all races
Melanin produced in a melanosome

 Stratum spinosum (thorn-like, prickly)

8-10 layers attached by desmosomes
See spines when cell is stained for
microscopy
Keratinocytes take in melanin by cytocrine
secretion

 Stratum granulosum
3-5 layers
Keratinization begins here
Keratohyalin found in granules
Cells beginning to die

 Stratum lucidum (lucid = clear)

More apparent in thick skin
3-5 layers of clear cells
Eleidin

Stratum corneum (corneum means horny)

Dead, flat cells full of keratin
Keratin is waterproof
Cells are shed

Basal cell to surface about 2-4 weeks

Dermis
Connective tissue layer
Collagen and elastic fibers, nerves, blood
vessels, muscle fibers, adipose cells, hair
follicles and glands.
Papillary layer
1/5 of dermis loose areolar connective
tissue
Highly vascular
Dermal papillae - fingerprints

 Reticular (net) layer

Dense irregular connective tissue
Sebaceous (oil) glands
Hair follicles
Ducts of sudoriferous (sweat) glands
Striae or stretch marks
Meissners corpuscles and Pacinian
corpuscles

Hypodermis
Attaches the reticular layer to the
underlying organs
Loose connective tissue and adipose
tissue
Major blood vessels rete cutaneum

Accessory organs or epidermal

derivatives
Hairs
Epidermal growths that function in protection
Shaft, root, and folllicle
Sebaceous glands, arrector pili muscle, and
hair root plexus (touch)
Hair growth and replacement have a cyclical
pattern
male-pattern baldness

Nails
Plates of highly packed, keratinized cells
Protection, scratching, & manipulation
Formed by cells in nail bed called the
matrix ( in area of lunula)
1 mm / week
Eponychium - cuticle

Skin Glands
Sebaceous (oil) glands
Usually connected to hair follicles
Holocrine glands
Fats, cholesterol, proteins, salts, and cell
debris
Moistens hair and waterproofs skin

 Sweat (sudoriferous) glands

Eccrine sweat glands
Merocrine glands
Water, salt, wastes
Function is to cool the body (also nervous)

Apocrine sweat glands

Larger, merocrine glands

Associated with hair follicles
More viscous fatty acids and proteins
Odor occurs when broken down by bacteria

 Ceruminous glands
Modified sudoriferous glands
Secrete cerumen (ear wax)

Mammary glands
Secrete milk

Skin color
Genetic factors
Same number of melanocytes
Albinism

Environmental factors
Uv light or x-rays

 Physiological factors
Amount of blood
Amount of oxygen
Cyanosis
Carotene accumulation
Jaundice liver disorder

Wound healing
Inflammation
Blood vessels dilate and become permeable
Heat, redness, swelling and pain

Shallow cuts
Epithelial cells migrate
Contact inhibition

Deeper wounds
Inflammatory phase
Fibrin forms clot

Migratory phase
Fibroblasts make granulation tissue

Proliferative phase
Maturation phase
Scars hypertrophic scar
keloid

Burns
First degree or partial thickness burn
Only epidermis is damaged
Erythema, mild edema, surface layer shed
Healing a few days to two weeks
No scarring

 Second degree- deep partial-layer burn

Destroys epidermis
Blisters form
Healing depends on survival of accessory
organs
No scars unless infected

 Third degree or full-thickness burn

Destroys epidermis, dermis and accessory
organs of the skin
Healing occurs from margins inward
Skin grafting may be needed
Autograft
Homograft

Rule of Nines